Monday, May 27, 2013

Many of my regular readers know that the boyfriend and i take a nice long vacation every year, and last year was no exception. Some of our travels lend to be more go, go, go type vacations, and some are more leisurely. Usually, we try and alternate years, and last year (after my father passed away in late summer 2011) there was a real need to escape and not think too much about itinerary. Somewhere relaxing. It was a complete no brainer about where we would go, since for the last 20 years my father had been vacationing in Aruba. He always told my brother and i how he can't wait for us to experience the island for ourselves, and this felt like paying tribute to my dad and keeping up the tradition of my family continuing this Aruba travel. Armed with recommedations of restaurants from my stepmom, i set about seeing what else the island had to offer. Eating great food and sitting by the pool holds appeal for us, but we both like to explore and get to know the place we were vacationing. I'm also really thrifty, so seeing what deals and steals are out there is of great importance. What we found and experienced truly was getting to know the whole island. We went to beaches that usually only locals frequent, we went to a crazy bar that many repeat vacationers have never heard of, and we went to a weekly festival that, when asking what time it started, staff thought we were referring to a completely different festival because they hadn't heard of this one. Like the people in this video, Aruba is a place where people return time and time again. I wholeheartedly believe it's because the island feels safe and is so user friendly. You don't have to rent a car, but if you do driving is on the same side of the road as us even though it's a Dutch island. You don't have to worry about going out of the "resort" area. You don't have to be embarrassed about rocking a floppy hat, which i proudly did! As i write this, my stepmom is there enjoying her vacation, and my brother and his fiance are going next year on their honeymoon. I can absolutely see us going back again in a few years when we need another relaxing and easy vacation. If you are thinking about going to Aruba, visit Aruba.com, but i'll also glady offer recommendations or answer any questions. Ask away!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Am I in the twilight zone or something? Is there a boyfriend doppelganger in my midst, one who does crazy things like make window boxes and removes iron scrolls from railings at mere suggestion? Clearly that can be the only explanation....I'll be testing it out tonight, when I request a home cooked meal cooked by someone other than myself.

Out came the grinder. Look at those pretty sparks fly! Be gone, scrolls, be gone!

Yes, yes, these scrolls were very harmless, but they "fuddy duddy-ed" up the whole look of the cape to me. I feel like they scream "I'm a house made in the '50s. Don't confuse me with anything more modern." What, you don't hear see it?

Alternating patterns of swirled and straight rods, but to me, it's better than scrolls.

Good thing there was nothing in those pots, as this was taking quite a direct hit (yes, this was done before I went on my green painting frenzy.)

Now in the backyard, we switched to the sawzall and chopped those puppies right off. Unlike the front where the railing was still in place, we had to replace this with something. Can't have little children falling off and wrecking my plants. Or, you know, hurting themselves. Sure....

At Home Depot we got some straight rods that you just cut to your desired length and weld to your space.

A little spray paint and 36 dollars later, we're rocking a more streamlined look. Still needs touching up, but a huge improvement over the ornate pattern that was there.

So yeah, you saw the cute boyfriend with the safety glasses, and there was a welding mask when that was happening, but still, he ended up with metal in his eye. A sleepless and stressful night and an opthamologist later, the metal was removed. It left an indentation and a scratch, and thankfully, with eye drop antibiotics, he's fine now. No eye patch necessary, though he couldn't go to work for a few days. The computer nor the sun would have been good for him. The piece did not fly in when he was welding, but somehow got transferred there after, maybe when he rubbed his eye or changed his shirt. Just a word of caution. Eyes are serious business.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CB2 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

i love the modern look of CB2's furnishings, and now they've partnered with designing couple Robert and Courtney Novogratz to feature new products influenced by their vacation home in Brazil. The CB2 and Novogratz Collection combines punchy pops of colors and warm wood tones for a true tropical feel. This rouge coffee table is all over the polka dot trend, which i pretty consistantly rock, although not usually in my home decor. This piece is a fun and funky way to try it. One more reason to love these two? They've partnered with CB2 to give away a trip to Brazil. Not only that, you'll be staying in the Novogratz's actual home. Enter the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes to win a week's vacation in Trancoso for you and three friends. Make that you and 2 friends, since you'll be taking me, right?! 10 other winners will recieve a CB2 giftcard for $100 and a personally signed copy of Bob and Courtney's book, Home by Novogratz. For a chance to win, enter at cb2.com/sweeps from now until June 3rd. To stay updated about this trip of a lifetime, follow CB2 on Twitter (@CB2Tweets) and check them out on facebook.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Springtime gives me what i like to call the "itching for the greens." It's like the running of the bulls, but with a lot less goring. I get in a "what can i make green" or "where can i add green" or "man, i want more plants but my cats will eat them" mindset. I need green!

Enter free sample of paint called Herb Cornucopia. Springy green goodness? Oh yes. You down with OPPP? Other people's painted pots? It was time to paint some of my own.

Oh heck yeah.

Loving this punched up view of the garage!

So why the green love? Just look at how well these front flower beds are growing.

Not bad for someone who has no idea what they're doing, eh?

And inside, the best green space, and the best place to observe nature but be removed from it (oh yes)

Le sunroom.

Le sigh.

Anybody else get the itching for the greens? Not to be confused with poison ivy, or anything...